Penang: A total of 28 traditional Penang dishes have been gazetted as intangible cultural heritage under the Penang State Heritage Enactment 2011 this year in an effort to preserve the state's identity and rich culinary legacy. Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai announced the gazetted foods, which include some of the state's most iconic dishes such as nasi kandar, asam laksa, char kuetiau, pasembor, and cendol.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Wong Hon Wai, during the State Assembly sitting, detailed that among the other foods gazetted are Hokkien mee, squid noodles, mee jawa, prawn noodles, roti Benggali, oh chien, kerabu bihun, mamak fried noodles, putu mayam, muruku, tosai, and teh tarik. He was responding to a question from Wong Yuee Harng (PH-Pengkalan Kota) regarding Penang's achievements in obtaining recognition for intangible heritage at the state, national, and international levels.

Wong explained that all intangible cultural heritage items gazetted at the state level could subsequently be recommended for national recognition under the National Heritage Act 2005 before being considered for international recognition by UNESCO. Apart from traditional cuisine, seven additional cultural and heritage elements were also gazetted, including Nasi Kandar Culture, Kopitiam Culture, the Chingay Parade, Thaipusam Festival, and the Tanjong dialect.

He added that the Penang government would continue strengthening efforts to preserve intangible heritage through various programmes and festivals at both local and international levels.